Disclaimer: I do not own Camp Rock, Wizards of Waverly Place, Paramore, or anything affiliated with those things.
About ten minutes after I posted last chapter, my exam grade came in, and I got a B! I was so happy. Just thought I'd let you all know ;) Thank you all so much for the good wishes! It means a lot that you care. And I just took another test today that I don't think I did well on. Any wishes for that one?
GAME TIME: Can you spot the 'That's what HE said' joke?
The entire movie, Alex tried her best to pay attention. She really did. And she was doing well, too.
That is, until Mitchie decided to put her arm on the same armrest as her. As soon as she felt Mitchie's arm come in contact with hers, she sat up incredibly straight. Now, Alex was wearing a jacket, and Mitchie a sweatshirt, so it's not like their skin touched. But Alex didn't know what to do. Should she keep her arm there and let her heart continue to race, or should she move it and risk looking rude?
The warmth of Mitchie's arm traveled through the fabric of both of their sleeves. Maybe it was Alex's imagination, or her overactive brain, but her entire body seemed to be getting hotter, just with that simple touch. She couldn't even imagine what it would be like if both of their arms had been bare. She's likely to have caught fire.
In the end, she decided the best thing to do was to move. So she took her arm off the rest and tucked it in close to her body. Then she leaned in her seat so that she was as far from Mitchie as possible.
And so she sat for the rest of the movie. Mitchie didn't seem to notice Alex's standoffishness, but Alex didn't stop watching the other girl out of the corner of her eye. She was so afraid for Mitchie to get angry for her acting so weird, but she couldn't bring herself to sit normally.
When their arms had been pressed together, their hands had brushed. That smooth, soft hand was so inviting. The urge to take hold of it and lace their fingers together was just too much. She had to distance herself before she let that happen.
Somewhere towards the end of the movie, Alex had been able to calm down enough to pay attention. But then, she was lost because she'd missed the entire middle by being too preoccupied with Mitchie. All she was able to gather was that the two main characters met, one hated the other, they ended up falling in love, and living happily ever after. Lame!
"That was such a good movie," Mitchie said as the credits started to roll.
"What's your definition of good, exactly?" Alex asked while standing.
"You didn't like it?" Mitchie stood and started to follow Alex down the steps and out of the theater.
"Not really," Alex said. "From what I saw, it was just like pretty much every other romantic comedy about unlikely couples."
"From what you saw?" Mitchie quirked an eyebrow at her. "You didn't watch the whole thing?"
"No." Alex averted her eyes.
"Why not?"
"I zoned out." She shrugged. "Got distracted."
"By what?"
"You should call your dad to tell him to come get us," Alex said, avoiding Mitchie's question.
Mitchie was going to argue, but sensed it was no use. She simply nodded and pulled out her phone, walking a few feet away to stand in a corner that was less noisy to make the call.
Alex breathed a sigh of relief when Mitchie let the subject drop. She had no idea what she would have told Mitchie if she hadn't. It's not like she could tell the girl she was busy having not-so-friendly fantasies about the two of them walking around Central Park at Christmas time, holding hands, sharing a hot chocolate… No, that would be inappropriate to tell her friend. But those fantasies were so much more pleasant than reality, she had to admit…
"He's already in the parking lot waiting," Mitchie said, pulling Alex from yet another oh so wonderful daydream.
"That's convenient," Alex commented.
"How was the movie, girls?" Steve asked when they'd climbed in the backseat of the car.
"Alex didn't even watch most of it," Mitchie teased, buckling her seatbelt.
Alex did the same, letting out a sigh. "It was boring, okay? It's not my kind of movie."
"Just because a movie doesn't have blood, guts, and monsters doesn't mean it's bad."
"It doesn't mean it's good, either," Alex remarked, followed by sticking out her tongue at Mitchie.
Mitchie tried to look offended, but she just couldn't do it. Alex was too funny sometimes. Her laughter rang through the car as they pulled out of the movie theater parking lot, Alex quickly joining in the merriment.
Steve glanced at them in the rearview mirror. Both of their faces were lit up, huge smiles stretched across them as they joked together. It had been a while since he'd seen Mitchie that happy. Even when she was talking about Caitlyn moving up to New York she hadn't even seemed that happy. And he knew he had Alex to thank for this change.
He couldn't wait to get home to show his wife he'd made the right decision after all.
Connie looked up from the TV in the living room as the apartment door opened. In flooded a foreign sound. It was laughter, Mitchie's laughter. It was mixed with a laugh that belonged to someone she didn't recognize.
Mitchie walked in first, followed by a dark skinned, raven-haired girl (whom Connie assumed was Alex), and then Steve.
"Hi, Honey," Steve said, closing the apartment door.
The giggling girls calmed down.
"Hey, Mom," Mitchie said, still smiling. "This is Alex." She gestured to the girl beside her.
"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Torres," Alex said, walking over to the couch, smiling as well. She stuck out her hand for a shake. Her eyes were full of confidence. There was no nervousness this time. She seemed to already have the approval of one parent, so one more had to be a piece of cake, right?
"Hi, Alex. It's nice to meet you, too." She gave the girl a smile, though it seemed forced, and did not stand from the couch to shake her hand, but shook it nonetheless, quickly letting go. "Was it a good movie?"
"The jury's still out on that one," Alex joked.
"I liked it," Mitchie said, standing beside Alex.
"You didn't like it, Alex?" Connie asked, looking up at the girl.
Alex shrugged. "I'm not a fan of romantic comedies."
"Then why did you go see it?"Connie asked her, puzzled.
"Because Mitchie wanted to see it."
"And because it was the only one playing by the time we got there and decided on a movie." Mitchie smirked, nudging Alex with her elbow.
Alex laughed. "Yeah, that too."
Connie watched the interaction between her daughter and this girl of whom she was skeptical. Steve was right. She seemed pretty nice. But, appearances could be deceiving.
"Let's go to my room." Mitchie said suddenly.
"All right," was all Alex had time to say before Mitchie grabbed her by the wrist and started pulling her towards the bedrooms. "Thanks for letting me spend the night, Mr. and Mrs. Torres!" she called over her shoulder before they disappeared behind Mitchie's door.
"Well?" Steve asked, sitting beside his wife on the couch.
"She seems alright," Connie said reluctantly.
"I think she's a good friend for Mitchie to have, especially now," he said. "Did you hear that laughter? That started from the moment they got in the car until we walked in. They'd start laughing about one thing, stop to catch their breaths, and then start on something else."
"Mitchie did seem pretty happy," she admitted.
"So…?" Steve raised his eyebrows at his wife.
"So, maybe I'll give her a chance." She smiled a little. "She seems like a nice kid, despite her past."
"That's my girl." Steve smiled and kissed his wife's temple.
"Sorry it's a little small…" Mitchie rubbed the back of her neck as Alex looked around. She'd wanted to come to her room, but she'd forgotten about its size. Now she was just embarrassed.
"It's fine, really," Alex said, looking at a few posters Mitchie'd pinned to the wall. "I like it; it's cozy." And it was. The room was warm and homey. She felt a sense of ease as soon as they'd entered the room. But that may be because she didn't have Mitchie's parents watching her every move. Sure, Steve seemed to like her, and she'd been much more confident around her mom, but who knew what they were actually thinking about her in their heads.
Mitchie sat in the middle of her bed cross-legged as Alex inspected everything. She knew she had to look at everything too when she was in someone's bedroom for the first time, she so let Alex have her time to get acquainted with the space.
"Sorry, I'm nosy. I have to look," Alex apologized when she saw Mitchie sitting on her bed watching her.
"No, it's okay." Mitchie shook her head. "I have to do the same thing. Please, look. Take all the time you need."
Alex nodded, turning her attention back to the posters. There was a pin-up of Paramore on the wall. Alex's heart started beating like crazy when she saw it. Not because of Hayley Williams, but because she was excited that she and Mitchie had something in common. She felt having a similar taste in music with someone made it easier to get along with them.
"I love Paramore," Alex said, brushing her finger over the glossy paper.
"Me too," Mitchie said. "Obviously." She laughed. "What's your favorite song by them?"
"I really like 'Crushcrushcrush.' It's my ringtone,'" Alex said, taking a seat beside Mitchie on the bed. She'd seen all she needed to see. She also kicked her shoes off. Normally, it took her a while to get used to a place, and she wouldn't take her shoes off until she did so. But here, she felt comfortable already. "What about you?" she turned to Mitchie.
"My favorite off the new album is 'The Only Exception,'" she said. "But my all time favorite is 'We Are Broken.'"
"Wow. So you like the sad stuff?"
Mitchie nodded slightly. "I guess you could say that."
Alex gazed around the room again until something caught her attention. "Why do you have a crib in your room?" she exclaimed, very surprised. How had she not noticed that before?
"Alex…Really?" Mitchie raised an eyebrow at her.
"No, I know you're having a baby. What I mean is…" she looked at Mitchie. "Why do you have it set up already?"
"My dad didn't feel like having to put it into storage, so he set it up now." Mitchie shrugged. "It takes up a lot of room."
"Why didn't you guys get a bigger place?"
"It was an unplanned move. We didn't have much time to find a bigger place."
"Why did you move in the first place?" Alex asked, realizing how little she actually knew about Mitchie.
"My parents didn't want me to go through my pregnancy in Texas," Mitchie said, face unreadable. "People are really closed-minded there, so it wouldn't have been a good environment for me. They wanted me to have a fresh start."
"Wouldn't it have been smarter to do that after you have it…?" Alex asked. She didn't claim to be the smartest person in the world, but she knew this made more sense.
"It would have been a hassle to move with a baby." Mitchie shrugged.
"Oh," Alex said.
It was silent for a little while. Both girls stared at anything but each other. Alex had something on her mind. She didn't want to ask, but she had to know.
"Mitchie?"
"Hmm?" The brunette looked back at Alex.
"Don't take this the wrong way," Alex started, "but how did you, of all people, get pregnant at sixteen?"
Mitchie's body stiffened. Her eyes dropped to her comforter. She was silent.
"It's okay," Alex said, feeling terrible for bringing it up. "You don't have to tell me. I shouldn't have asked."
"No, it's fine," Mitchie said quietly. "You might as well find out sooner, rather than later. I just don't want you to think differently of me…"
"I won't," Alex said quickly.
"It's a long story."
"We have time," Alex said.
"That we do." Mitchie nodded. "Just be aware that I might cry, okay?"
"Okay." Alex nodded as well.
Mitchie was silent for a bit, gathering her thoughts and trying to figure out where to begin.
"This summer I went to Camp Rock," she said finally.
"Still jealous about that!" Alex exclaimed. "You're so lucky."
"I thought so, too," Mitchie said grimly. "But when I got there, it was nothing like I expected. I got to go at a discounted rate because my mom was the cook that summer. But all the other kids could actually afford to go at full price. I was embarrassed. So I made up this lame story about being rich and made fake friends. Then there was this counselor that I got close to. He made me feel so special…"
"Wait, a counselor?" Alex interrupted. "I don't want to judge or anything, but isn't that illegal?" In her mind, all she could see was a forty-something year-old guy with his hands all over Mitchie. It made her sick.
"He wasn't an adult, Alex," Mitchie said. "He was only seventeen. And he was the camp director's, Brown's, nephew. All of the girls at Camp Rock wanted him, and he chose me." At this, Mitchie's eyes started to get misty.
"What happened between you guys?" Alex asked softly.
"Well, he and I got pretty close over the summer. Then, everyone found out I'd been lying." She wiped at her eyes, trying to stop the moisture. How come she'd gotten to the point where she could joke about it with Caitlyn, but when she told Alex, she couldn't hold back the tears? "He got really mad and stopped talking to me. Everyone turned on me−except Caitlyn, my best friend. And this mean girl Tess got us kicked out of Final Jam, which is held a week or two before we have to go back home. He was a judge for it… Brown let me and Caitlyn perform at the end. I sang a song, and uh…He had written one that blended perfectly with mine. And we sang together on stage. It was beautiful." At this she stopped, gazing thoughtfully out the window.
Alex was about to ask what happened next, but Mitchie continued.
"After Final Jam he asked me on a canoe ride. It was so much fun. We had a great time, talking and laughing. But it had to be cut short because he was hosting an after party in his cabin," she said, her eyes glassing over with memories. "He ignored me for the most part of it, until he started trying to get me to drink the punch. I didn't want any, but he insisted. So I did, to make him happy. And even when the room started spinning, I kept drinking, because as long as I did, I was still the center of his attention."
"It was spiked?" Alex asked, catching on, but still disbelieving. Mitchie nodded. "But it couldn't have been!" Alex said. "You were at a summer camp. No one could have brought it in."
"No one except a counselor," Mitchie said, her voice free of emotion.
Alex gasped. "No…"
"Yes." Mitchie locked eyes Alex, hers dark with anger. "I woke up the next morning, in his bed, naked! I rolled over and the first thing I saw was his stupid, sleeping face!" Her voice shook as she spoke, a hot tear sliding down her face.
"What did you do?" Alex asked, feeling tears in her own eyes.
"I got dressed, left his cabin, and ran as far away from it as possible," she said softly. "I cried my eyes out near the pond. And then I went back to my cabin to sleep. Eventually I went find Caitlyn. When I told her what happened, she made me go look for him." She drew in a shaky breath as Alex hung on her every word. "I went to his cabin, and he was gone, along with all his stuff. His clothes, guitar, everything. The only thing he left behind were his empty bottles of vodka. I tried to call him, but he'd disconnected his number." She looked down at her hands. "It's as if it was his plan all along. And I played right into his hands." She paused to swallow the lump in her throat. "I barely even remember it…"
At this, she put her face in her hands, shoulders shaking as hot tears soaked her palms. She was so ashamed of that night, and reliving it, telling it to Alex, it brought back that shame.
Alex crawled across the bed to Mitchie. She knelt in front of her and put her arms around the other girl. Mitchie slipped her arms around Alex's neck, burying it in the crook. Alex repositioned so that her arms were around Mitchie's waist. She held on tight as the girl cried into her neck, hating herself for her heart fluttering every time Mitchie's hot breath tickled her skin.
"He doesn't know?" Alex asked softly.
Mitchie lifted her head from Alex's neck, looking at her with bloodshot eyes. "No." She shook her head. "And I don't plan on him knowing. Not now, anyway. Maybe in a few years, but not now. I can't handle it."
"Okay." Alex nodded. "What was his name, Mitchie?"
Mitchie shook her head again. "I can't. I can't, Alex. Not now. I can't say it right now."
"Okay," Alex said, pulling the girl to her again and stroking her hair. "You don't have to tell me. Whenever you're ready is fine. And if you never tell me, that's fine too." Alex sat, keeping her arms around Mitchie. Mitchie put herself in Alex's lap, like she'd done before with Caitlyn, that day at the pond. She remembered how safe it'd made her feel, and Alex's lap was no exception. She kept her arms locked around Alex's neck, as Alex kept hers around Mitchie's waist securely, protectively.
"Thank you," Mitchie mumbled, burying her face in Alex's shoulder again. She let Alex continue stroking her hair. The way her fingertips trailed over her skin calmed her. "You don't think I'm stupid or irresponsible, do you?"
"No," Alex said honestly. "I think you're just a person who gave into peer pressure and is now learning its consequences."
"And consequences suck," Mitchie said. "You know, you're a lot smarter than Justin or you give yourself credit for."
"Is that so?" Alex smirked.
"Yup." Mitchie lifted her head to smile at Alex. They locked eyes, sharing the smile. Then Mitchie yawned.
"Tired?" Alex asked.
Mitchie nodded. "Crying takes a lot out of you. I should know. I've been crying a lot lately."
"Well no more crying for tonight, okay?" Alex reached up and moved a strand of hair that was stuck to Mitchie's face by her tears. "Let's get you to bed."
"Okay." Mitchie nodded and reluctantly stood up. She'd been so warm and comfortable in Alex's lap. "You need to borrow pajamas, don't you?"
"Crap, I hadn't even thought of that," she said. "Yeah, I guess I do."
Mitchie went over to her dresser, taking out a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. She handed them to Alex. "We have an extra toothbrush you can borrow, too."
"I forgot about that as well," Alex said, taking the clothes. "Thanks."
"No problem," Mitchie said, getting out a pair of pajama pants and a t-shirt for herself. "You can change in the bathroom if you want privacy; or I can change in there. Or we can both change in here. Whatever is fine."
Alex considered. She really didn't want to see Mitchie undress because she knew she'd like it too much. And she'd feel weird changing in front of her. But after the girl had just been in her lap, how could she say she wouldn't feel comfortable with that?
"I'm fine with anything," Alex said. "I'm not modest, and I'm pretty good about keeping my eyes to myself." She finished with a wink.
Mitchie's face would have gone a delicate shade of pink if it hadn't been red from crying. "Well then let's get dressed."
Mitchie turned away to give Alex a bit of privacy. But the way she turned, if she glanced up, she could still see Alex in the mirror. She was going to look away, until Alex pulled her shirt over her head. Then, her eyes were fixed on the girl's stomach. It was so smooth and toned, especially compared to hers. She had a pregnancy stomach and Alex…Alex had a gorgeous stomach.
Mitchie shook her head and looked away from the mirror before Alex could catch her staring, but the image was burned in her mind.
Alex was very proud of herself for not once sneaking a peek at Mitchie. Sure, she wanted to. Oh, was she tempted. But she didn't, and that was the important part.
Once they were dressed, Mitchie led them to the bathroom, where she got the unused toothbrush from its box and handed it to Alex.
"Why do you guys have an extra toothbrush?" Alex questioned, taking the green, plastic tooth cleaning device.
"Just in case one of us would lose ours or something like that," Mitchie answered, taking her own blue brush from the holder.
While Alex brushed her teeth, Mitchie cleaned her face. It was a mess of makeup and dried tears. And while Mitchie brushed hers, Alex took off her makeup as well.
Oh great, now she's going to see me without makeup and in the morning, after just waking when my hair is a wild mess, Alex thought a tad bitterly as Mitchie led them back to her room.
"What side do you sleep on?" Alex asked, motioning to the somewhat small bed. It's wasn't a twin, but it wasn't a queen, either. It was a full, which could fit two people, but they'd be very close together.
"I usually sleep on the side closest to the door," Mitchie answered.
"Okay." Alex climbed into the bed and crawled over to the side nearest the wall. She was thankful the window had a curtain so that the sun wouldn't shine in her eyes the next morning.
Mitchie crawled in beside Alex, lying with her back facing the other girl. Alex, on the other hand, shifted so that she was staring at Mitchie's back. Mitchie reached over and turned off the lamp that was sitting on her dresser.
They lay there in the dark and silence, just listening to each other breathe. Mitchie remembered the last time she'd shared a bed with someone. It had been Shane. And then the painful memories came flooding back. She bit down on her lip, trying to stop the tears. She felt vulnerable again, and she hated it. It made her cold and made her shiver. She wanted to feel warm, protected.
"Alex?" Her voice shook in the dark.
"Yeah?" Alex propped herself up on her elbow, looking at Mitchie in the almost pitch-blackness. She could just make out the singer's features.
"I know this is going to sound weird, and I'll understand if you say no, but…" she swallowed. "Could you hold me?"
Alex's heart began to thud hard against her ribcage. She licked her lips. "Like, wrap my arms around you?"
"Yeah." Mitchie turned over to face Alex. "Is that too weird?"
Alex knew she should say yes.
"No," she said. "It's fine. Turn over."
Mitchie turned over so that her back was towards Alex again. Alex scooted herself closer so that her front was pressed against Mitchie's back. She slipped one arm around Mitchie's waist and slipped the other under her body. Mitchie propped herself up a little to let Alex's arm through, then set herself back down. Alex's hands rested on Mitchie's stomach. And even though she knew it was a bit too much, she let herself give into temptation and nuzzled her nose against Mitchie's back, just under her neck. A few strands of her hair tickled Alex's nose.
"Thank you," Mitchie said quietly.
"You're welcome," Alex said, her lips brushing against the fabric of Mitchie's t-shirt, tickling the other girl's skin through the material.
"Goodnight, Alex," Mitchie said, just as quietly.
"'Night, Mitch."
Mitchie placed her hands on top of Alex's, which were still on her stomach. She grabbed Alex's fingers and gave them a squeeze.
"Love you…," Mitchie said timidly. She knew it was very soon in the friendship, but she felt like she had to say it. After all, she'd shared an awful lot with Alex tonight. And she did care for the girl, after all. She just wanted Alex to know that she appreciated everything she'd done for her. She wanted her to know what she was feeling right then and there.
Alex hesitated, then said, "Love you too, Mitch."
And so Mitchie closed her eyes with a content smile on her face. It was good to feel loved. It put her at ease and let her fall asleep only a few minutes later.
Alex, on the other hand, lay awake. She couldn't get her brain to shut up. Also, she loved the current sleeping position. She wanted to make sure she was awake so she could remember as much of it as possible.
She didn't want to enjoy it as much as she did, but she couldn't help it. However, she knew this was wrong, and it would never work.
With a sigh, she attempted to pull her fingers from Mitchie's grasp. In her sleep, Mitchie held on tighter. Alex let out a deeper sigh.
You're not making this easy, Torres.
Oh joy. Review.
I am love with the next chapter, just so you guys know. May be a while before it's up, though. I have a few test coming up, as well as midterms. I have a few novels coming up that have to be read for my literature class, and I have a research paper worth almost half of my grade that I need to start working on. Things will be hectic. I'll update when I can!